AC_61_inner.qxd 23/12/09 3:51 PM Page 20

COMPANIES ON THE MOVE > > >

water solution is generating huge AIS wins Gaia title interest; in fact the hotel where our award was presented, the Grand Hyatt ‘greener’ way to purify water. in Dubai, will be implementing our The Ecoline system, designed in system early next year,” Ms Gosse said. , is a completely new The Ecoline system has this year won approach to water treatment that a Telstra Small Business Award in the does not need to add chemicals. The Innovation category for Queensland system makes and regulates the chlo- and an International Stevie Award. rine levels needed to sterilise www.aiswater.com.au I fresh water. The innovation eliminates the risks involved with manual chemical handling, transport, storage and dos- ing, making it safer for staff and bet- ter for the environment. Elena Gosse, executive director of AIS, said winning the Gaia Award is AIS’s Susan Rae collects the GAIA Award. the most rewarding accolade in the company’s achievements. ueensland-based Australian “To be recognised on the world stage Innovative Systems has among leaders in the building and Q continued its award-win- construction industry for a product ning record with a gold Gaia award which is a world innovation and has in Dubai – an honour that recognises great advantages for the environment international building and construc- is wonderful,” said Ms Gosse. “Water tion companies that are reducing sustainability is becoming critically impacts on the environment. important for companies and our plan- Australian Innovative Systems won et and we are generating huge interest the award for designing the world’s internationally with this innovation. first electrolysis system to disinfect “In the Middle East they are reluc- fresh water, recognised as a safer and tant to use salt water, so our fresh Susan Rae with AIS’s global gold award. The landed No.2 Christmas, including operations than 100 new stores by June 2011. across five store models – local, micro, Eagle Boys managing director standard, drive-thru and express. Todd Clayton said the record store During the 12 months to June 30, openings, coupled with the launch of 2009, Eagle Boys opened a record 56 the company’s revamped menu, had new stores including converting driven Eagle Boys to become stores following the ’s second largest pizza maker. company’s purchase of the brand last “In a David versus Goliath battle, year. Since Eagle Boys Pizza was pur- Eagle Boys has knocked American chased by Brisbane-based private pizza multinational off the equity firm NBC Capital and the cur- podium and stolen the number two rent executive team in 2007, network spot in Australia’s pizza hierarchy,” he store numbers have grown by 63 per- said. “Our greatest growth has come in cent – the highest period of growth the past two years since NBC Capital in the company’s 22-year history. and the current executive team pur- Apart from bolstering its network chased the company.” in Queensland, NSW and WA, the Eagle Boys posted a 24.8 percent company also entered new markets growth in stores and 16.4 percent of Sydney, Adelaide and regional growth in network sales during in South Australia for the first time. the 2008-09 financial year. Todd Clayton. Eagle Boys Pizza saw sales grow “While many businesses are being agle Boys Pizza has overtaken 16.4 percent during the 12 months, conservative with growth forecasts in Pizza Hut as Australia’s sec- bringing total sales growth during the current climate, the pizza industry E ond largest pizza maker, sec- the past three years to 43.2 percent. remains robust. When times get tough, ond only to Domino’s Pizza, which is The company expects the strong people often turn to pizza as an afford- also Queensland based. double digit growth to continue during able family meal instead of more expen- Eagle Boys Pizza’s store count is the 2009-10 financial year and plans to sive or meals.” expected to climb to 300 by bolster its position by opening more www.eagleboys.com.au I

20 issue 61 – business acumen queensland